Test Description
 


Library Search Engines

 

Search Engine Guide

SEARCH TOOL NAME

TYPE

WHEN TO USE

Altavista
All the Web
Google
Teoma
Wisenut

 

Search engine

When you are looking for something very specific; for example, the name of a company, information on a person, a specific fact.

Jux2
Vivismo
Ixquick
Dogpile
KartOO
QueryServer
All4One

Meta-Search Engine

When you are looking for an overview of a topic, or a broad sense of its coverage.

Scirus
SOSIG
HUMBUL
Biography Center
PSIGate
GESource
QS News

QS Govt
Religion explorer

Science
Social Science
Humanities
Biographies
Physical Science
Geography
News
Government Info
Religion

Specialty Search Engine

When you are looking for a specific type of information: Science, Social Science, Humanities, Biography, Physical Science, Geography, News, Government, etc.

About.com
Infomine
Librarians' Index to the Internet
Internet Public Library
Digital Librarian

Directory or Clearinghouse

An excellent starting place for most general searches. Particularly helpful for narrowing topics.

Ask Jeeves
Brain Boost

Question Service

These services allow you to type a question in natural language, and receive an answer from human experts or via artifical intelligence.


DeweyBrowse
CyberDewey

Virtual Library

Librarians have attempted to bring order into the chaos of the Internet. These sites organize the web into traditional library classifications

IPL Ready Reference
IPL News and Current Events

Ready Reference

When you are looking for a quick fact.
When you are looking for a current news story.